Spring-metal clip for uniting and supporting concrete-reinforcements.



A. H. SYMONS.

SPRING METAL CLIP FOR UNITING AND SUPPORT ING CONCRETE REINFORCEMENTS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, I915- mwm ' Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

THUR H. SYMONS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T SYIVIONS CLAMP CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CUJltIIPUNhTION OF MISSOURI.

SPRING-M'IETNL CLIP FOR UNITING .lhNlD SUPPORTING CONGRETE-REINFORCEMJENTS.

., &

specification 0 Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3d, ltlillo Application filled July 13, with. serial No. 39,578.

To all whom it may cpnc'arn:

Be it known that I, Anrrrnn l-l. firmware,

a citizen of the "United tates, residing at Chicago, in the county of (look and- State of llllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in dpring-Metal Clips for This invention relates to spring metal clips for uniting and supporting concrete reinforcements, and belongs to that type in which the spring metal clip is interlocked with intersecting reinforcing members in such manner as to tie the latter together at their portion of intersection.

Among the salient objects of' the invention are to provide a construction which may be very economically and readily manufactured by the aid of extremely simple machinery and from low cost material; to provide a construction which lies the intersecting reinforcement members together efficiently and at the same time provides a lug-like support whereby the concrete reinforcing mesh may be supported at a definite distance from the centering or other confining means until embedded in concrete; to provide a clip which may be almost instantly and very "conveniently applied, and removed if necessary with equal facility;

and in general, to provide a simple and improved device of the character referred to.

To the above ends the invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and

more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

lln the drawings Figure l is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of my invention, the clip being shown as properly applied to the intersecting reinforcements but in its open position, a. a, before being sprung into place and locked to the reinforcements; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the parts shown in Fig. l, butwith the clip fully applied; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a section of reinforcing mesh, the'intersecting members of which are held together by my improved clips and the manner in which the clips serve as supporting feet, being indicated at the edge of the reinforcement represented as toward the observer.

For reasons of economy and simplicity of manufacture ll prefer to make the clips of my invention from wire having aconsiderable amount or degree of resiliency. Ordinary hard drawn fence wire stock or coiled bed spring stock fulfils these requirements.

In making the preferred embodiment, that shown in. the drawings, a suitable length of wire is bent at approximately midlength to form a transverse saddle-like midportion 1, a coil 2 at each end, and in continuation of the ends of the portion 1, and two arms, as 3, 4, formed in continuation of the coils 2 and extending approximately parallel with each other. The coils 2 are so formed as to project downwardly below the longitudinally-disposed reinforcement 5 more or less as desired, and the length of the saddle or support 1 is such that reinforcement 5 may be accommodated between the two arms 3, 4, and disposed upon said saddle or support.

Each arm 3, .4, is provided with an upstanding hump-like curve, as 6, formed near the corresponding coils 2, 2, and in such relation to the latter as to overlie and partially embrace an intersecting reinforcement 5 resting upon the longitudinal rein forcement; 5. The arms 3, t, are long enough to extend a considerable distance along the reinforcement 5, and the arm 3 is provided with a transversely disposed and downwardly curved saddle portion 7 and with a down-turned hook 8 forming the extremity of the arm. The other arm is straight from the hump portion to. its extremity and is of such length as to interlock with the hook 8.,

The clip is so shaped and proportioned that when adjusted to the intersecting rein forcements substantially as shown in Fig. l the arms stand at an acute angle with relation to the longitudinal reinforcement 5; the angle being such that the arms may be bent down and interlocked with the reinforcements as shown in Fig. 2 without bending the clip beyond, or appreciably beyond, the elastic limit of the wire. Consequently when the clip is adjusted and looked, as

shown in Fig. 2, the intersecting reinforcements are very firmly and reliably",held in bearing with each other under a constant spring tension. Moreover, the clip may be unfastened and removed from the reinforcements to be used over again or to be readjusted if desirable or necessary. By reason of the fact that the two armsof the clip are normally unlatched and may be spread into divergent relation, it is obvious that the clip can be applied straddle-fashion to the longitudinal reinforcement, then adjusted to overlie the'intersecting reinforcement, and finally interlocked at the ends of the arms, with the utmost convenience.

The fact that the reinforcing members are held in yielding engagement with each other, and without notching, cutting or otherwise specially. forming the reinforcements, of course,-. makes it entirely feasible to readjust"the-reinforcement relatively to each other afterthe clips have been applied, Without removing or releasing the latter; itbeing, of course, necessary to exercise considerable force in order to do so. The provision of the legs or supporting members as parts of the} clip is a matter of much importance, especially inasmuch as these supports are of ,such construction as to readily sustain the weight of the, reinforcements and workmen walking over the same. By these supports the reinforcing mesh is accurately and reliably spaced away from the centering or.other confining wall which confines the outer surface of the concrete.

It will. be obvious that the details of form and construction of the clip may be somewhat modified without departing from the spirit or substance of the invention, and the claims are therefore to be constructed as broadly as is consistent with their terms and the state of the art.

I claim as my invention: 1. A spring wire clip for yieldably binding together and positioning crossed concrete reinforcing rods or bars, comprising a said link being bowed link-like structure bowed between its ends, one end of the link being provided with integral loop-like lateral PIOJGCtlODS the other end of the link being openable and the parts thereof adapted to interlock with each other and be resiliently held in interlocked relation, one of the link ends having a transversely disposed hook portion engaged by the other link end, the intermediate part of and provided with hump-like curves, substantially as described.

2. In a spring wire clip for yieldably binding together and positioning crossed concrete reinforcing rods or bars, comprising a suitable length of wire bent at approximately mid-length to form the clip and including a transverse saddle-like portion at one end of said clip on which is adapted to rest the lower reinforcing bar, a pair of rigid coils formed from the continuation of said transverse saddle-like portion for spacing the lower bar from its support, two approximately parallel arms extending upwardly from and being a continuation of said coils, said arms being of sufficient distance apart to admit said lower reinforcing bar, an upstanding hump-like curve being formed in each arm adjacent to said coils, said upstandin hump-like curves being adapted to artlally embrace the upper bar, and means For positioning said ends including a transversely bent portion on the end of one of said arms for engaging the lower side of said lower bar.

ARTHUR H. SYMONS. Witnesses:

ALBERT H. GRAVES, EMILIE Ross. 

